The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-12-23

way most unfortunate. II there had been
no extra trains we could by this time have
been at Dalton, forty miles further mp the
road with The Oostenaula bridge burned
behind us, and, these two trains passed,
leaving no further serious obstacle 90 con-
tend with.
But while so anxious 70 reach Adairs-
vile, the next station above, where there
was side track, 1t would never do 70
leave the way open from Kingston, as the
distance Is only ten miles, and II the enc
my choose TO make up pursuing train at
that point, on account OF suspicious
formed, Il might be very embarrassing.
So II seemed that we had scarcely got
under full Roadway at q tremendous rate
OF speed before the tender brakes, all that
we had on our train, were put sharply
down, and we were on the ground almost
before the train had stopped, and under
the energetic leadership Of Andrews were
hard at work lifting the track, the readi-
est mode Of effective obstruction in our
power. We again cut the wire, and also
loaded on large nNmber Of ties and
other kinds Of wood to be used in burning
the bridge. We were the more anxious
for abundant fuel, as the ceaseless rain,
which was now severe, would render
kindling fire without much wood slow
and difficult. No time was lost in these
operations, as but few could work at
track lifting at once, and others were
ready for any other useful employment.
Lifting rail seems easy enough, but IL
was far from easy in practice. The rail
Is long and heavy; il is securely bolted to
other rails, and fastened with great spikes
driven into solid oak ties, which in turn
4.-a1. 7o1 -, he
was the first place we wished to take up
q rail very quickly, and accordingly we
were far more sensible Of the difficulty
than when we had abundance of leisure.
We were not excited, for we believed our
selves ahead of any probable pursuit; but
to pass the two trains still before us, and
hurry to our real work of bridge burning,
was an ardent desire. Slowly we drew
out spike after spike, battering out the
great nails as rapidly as possible with our
one iron bar. cannot tell how many
minutes we spent, but time went by
swiftly. The large load Of ties, which
were not far away, was great acquisi-
ton, and were all on board before the
stubborn rail was half loosened.
The rail was loosened at the southern
end, and for perhaps two-thirds of its
length was cleared of spikes. Eight of
us, including our strongest men, took hold
of it, to try to pull out the remainder by
the rail itself. But they were too firmly
| fixed; and we were about to give up the
attempt and wait to batter out a few
more, when away in the distance we
heard, family but Enthusiastically, the
whistle of locomotive in pursuit. But
faint and far off as it was, no sound more
unwelcome ever fell on human ear. Be-
fore us, only two or three miles away,
there were two trains possibly blocking
the track; and behind us a pursuing en-
| gine which in a minute or two more
would be upon us. 1t nearly seemed as
| If our race was endedl Bat we did not
pause for moralizing; we lifted again and
with every particle of strength, as men
lift for life. The strong rail bent under
the terrible pressure and snapped with a
dull twangl All of us tumbled in con-
fused heap down the grade, but in mo-
ment were ON our feet and hurrying
toward the car, taking our precious half
rail with us. For the time we were
savedl No matter who the pursuer was
he would be arrested by that break, and
give us time, with favoring fortune, to
| pass the trains above.